Submarine salvage vessel



API- 3, 1923- J. c. sETLow 1,450,232

SUBMARINE SALVAGE VESSEL I Filed March e, 1920 e sheets-sheet 1 www SUBMARINE SALVAGE VESSEL Filed March 6, 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jahn C eHow EET-E,

Gnome@ Apr. 3, 19,23. J. c. ysE'rLow 1,450,232

SUBMARINE sALvAGE vEssmL Filed March s, 1920 e sheets-sheet s 1W A5o v o I3 gmc/raton i Tahn" C. eHow4 Apr. 3, 1923. J. c. sETLow 1,450,232

y SUBMARINE SALVAGE VESSEL y Filed March 6, -1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 API- 3,1921 J. c. sErLw 1,450,232

SUBMARINE SALVAGE VESSEL Filed March 6, 1920 s sheets-sheetv 5 loq J. C. SETLOW SUBMARIIN SLVAGE VESSEL Apr. 3, 1923.

Filed Maren e, 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Uuml.

l2 John C. eHow NE ...l E

Patented Apr. 3, 1923.

' UNITED STATES4 JOHN C. SETLW, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

SUBMARINE sALvAGE vssnL.

Application filed March 6, 1920. Serial No. 363,653.

To aZZ'wwm t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I JOHN C. SETLoW, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented certain new' and useful Improvements in Submarine Salvage Vessels, of which the following is a s ecification.

his invention relates vto improvements in submarine salvage vessels andl has for, its princi al object to provide a device'of the class escribed whichA may be utilized for salvage work at great depths of water.

In the usual type of submarine salvage vessels, the salvage or wrecking tools' are mounted on the exterior of the vessel and are operated-from the interior of the vessel. Ithas 'therefore been necessary to lead the operating shafts, rods or similar mechanisms for driving and controlling the tools, through stuiing boxes, ball and socket joints or the like provided in the shell of the vessel. Consequently the depth to which salvage vessels have been operated .has been limited to comparatively shallow water since the pressure of the water at greatv depths is sucient to cause leakageat any point where a working joint is provided between the interior and exterior of the shell regardless of packing measures which maybe taken to prevent suchleakage.

invention to increase the working depth of salvage vessels by dispensing with working joints in the side of such vessels by the positionig of electric motors, constituting the operating or driving means for the salvage tools, on the outside of the vessel, and by the positioning of the controlling means consisting of switches, within the vessels. Said controlling means and operating means are connected by electricity conductors, mainly in the form of wires, said conductors at point of entry into the vessel being of novel construction which will preclude the leakage of water into the vessel vat this point.

' It is a further object of the invention to provide a salvage vessel wherein the salvage 5 tools are of such a character as will enable tricate tasks with comparativeease.

A further object is to prov1de a salvage Therefore 1t 1sA one of the objects )of my the operator to perform comparatively in from the surface and without exhaustingair into the water.

. A further object is the provision of novel means for shifting the position of the vessel whenresting on the bottom and a novel means of Aconnecting the vessel and the shifting means.

A further object is thev provision of a novel ballast drop, the control thereof being `posltioned within the vessel while the operating mechanism is without the vessel, the control and operating means trically connected. l

Further objects vof the invention will b e more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings and more particu- 4larly pointed out in and bythe appended In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the salvage vessel.

Figure 2 is a top, plan view of Figurel,

Figure 3 is a 'view of the connectionbe-\A being electween the shell of thevessel and the tractor Figurel.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section o f the drive, lookingin vthe direction of arrow 3,

shell and tractor drive on line. 4 4 ofiFig- Y ure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on line 5-5 of Figure 2.-

Figure 6 is an enlarged section online 6 6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is an enlarged section on line 7-7 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a partial sectional view showing the search light and means of connecting same to the top of the vessel.

Figure-10 is an`enlarged sectiom` online 10-10 of Figure 1, Y

Figure 11 is a Viewr in side elevationshowvcables 11 which are fastened ing the construction of the magnet holding means and the method of mounting same on the shell.

Figure 12 is a section Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a section on line 13-13 of Figure 11. l

Figure 14 is'an enlarged section on line 14-14 of Figure 11.

Figure 15 is a side elevation of one of the mechanical arms.

Figure 16 is a top, plan view of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a section on line 17-17 of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is an enlarged section on line 18-18 of Figure 16.

Figure 19 is enlarged section on line 19- 19 of Figure 16.

Figure 2O is a vertical on line 12-12 of section view through shaft 47 in Figure 4.

Like numerals of reference designate similiar parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

As illustrated, 10 designates the shell or hull of the vessel and is preferably cylindric al in shape and its structure may be designed so as to withstand the extreme water ressure of great depths without collapsing. p The shell 10 may be lowered or raised from an attending ship by means of the to the top of shell 10 by means of eyes 12.

A man hole 13, through which access may be gained to the'interior of shell 10, is provided with the water tight manhole cap 14 (Fig. 5) which is held in position by bolts .15. In order to render cap 14 water tight, I preferably introduce gaskets 16 between the cap 14 and the shell 10.

'A cable 17 Vfurnishes the necessary light, power and telephone connection between the attending ship and the interior of shell 10 and I have provided a novel means of carrypost 19 and is secured to ing electricity from cable 17 through the side wall of shell 10 whereby there will bel no danger of water leakage into the lshell 10 at this point. In Figure 6I have shown one of the wires 18 from cable 17 attached to binding post 19 carried -on the extremity of lug 20 which passes entirely through the she 10 and is insulated therefrom at 21. Plug 20 is threaded through the insulation 21 which is anged as at 22 to hold it in position with respect to the shell 10.

Lock nuts 23 further serveto position plug 20 with respect to insulation 21 and shell 10. A metal casing 24 covers binding shell 10 by bolts 25. After wire 18 hasv been secured to binding st 19, the casingl 24 is filled with an ins atin cement 26 which will harden and set and w ich will resist the action of water.

binding post 19 but will also seal the entire joint between the shell and plug 20 and that the external pressure of the water will have no effect on the joint.

On the opposite end of plug 20, which is an electricity conductor, and within the shell 10, is arranged the binding post 27 to which is attached wire 28 leading to the switch board 29. It will be understood that each wire such as 30, 31, 32v contained in cable 17 will be electrically connected with the interior of the shell in the manner just described in connection with wire 18. Wires 27-28, which are the main power and light wires, are connected to switch board 29 and the electricity conveyed thereby is thence distributed to the various power appliances, to be described, through the medium of control switches 30. A

As a means of 'communicating with the surface, I have shown a head clamp telc- .Il

t phone set at 33 connected to telephone wires 31e-32 which are carried Thelower end of shell l() is conical in' sha as at 34 and to the extremity 35, thereof, 1s attached by bolts 36 the universal'joint 37. Joint 37 is secured at 38 to the cross beam 39 which ties together the tractor members 40-41. Tractor members 40-41 are of any suitable type but for sake of illustration I have shown them ascomprising thc supporting frames 42, treads 43, track 44 (Fi 10) rollers 45, sprockets 46 mounted on s afts 47 and 47 and track positioning members 48. The treads 43, tracks 44, rollers 45 and positioning members 48 may be arranged as shown inA Figure 10, the posiy tioning members 48 supporting treads 43by contact with shoulders 49 to prevent treads 43 from dropping away from rollers 45 while saidl treads 43 are raised from the surface of the ground. Tractor members 40 and 41 are driven by independent motors 50-51 which are operatively connected with shafts 47 by such means as spur gears 52 and gears 53.

Motors 50-511are electrically connected with switch board 30 by such meansmas wires 54-55, there being an independent circuit for each motor 50-51. The motors 50-51 are reversible and are of that type, (such as squirrel cage, induction) which .will operate freely and well although entirely immersed in water. The wires 54-55 are insulated with any suitable material which will resist the action of fresh or salt water. The point of entry 56 of wires 54-55 into the shell 10 may be constructed exactly similar to that construction described in connection with the method of introducing wires from cable 17 into the interior oflshell Inasmuch as there is no movement on the 10 part of the plug 20, it will be seen that cement 26 will serve not only to insulate It will be understood that all motors and wires positioned on the exterior of shell 10 and all connections between said wires and the interior 'of shell 10 hereafter mentioned in connection with the device will be of the type described immediately above.

By driving tractor members 40-41 through motors --51 it will be seen that after the vessel touches bottom it may be maneuvered about to bring it into advantageous position With respect-to the wreck or material on which work is to be done. By operating motors 50-51 independently it will be seen that the vessel may be readily steered.

Due to the universal of the shell 10-will be to remaln upright even though the tractor members 40-41 may be resting on un-even ground. To offset the weight of the/external working apparatus (to be described) I have 'secured a counterweight 57 to shell 10 by means of brace 58 and bolts 59.

As a means of loWerin the vessel to depths beyond which the weight of the shell 10 and its attachment would lower it, I have provided ballast in form of weights 60, ('Figs. 1-7 and 8). Weights 60 may b e provided in any desired number although I have shown but two for purposes of illustration. Weightsv 6() are so secured and the securing means is so controlled that the weights may be dropped when it is desired to'raise the vessel.

Said means are such that they are controlled from the inside of the vessel and yet no working joint Lin the shell 10 is needed.

Referring to Figures 7-8, it willbe seen that Weights 60 are held against the underside 10' of the shell 10 by means of short flanges 61 on weights 60, brackets 62 supporting said flanges 61 and secured to bottom 10 at 63, and the lever 64 which is piv-v otally supported from bottom 10 at- 65- by bracket 66.

1Secured to bottom 10 at 67 is the casing 68 containing the solenoid 69 which is elec- 1 trically connected to storage battery 70 by wires 71--72, and switch 73. Armature 74,

- adapted to slide within thel bore of solenoid counter-clockwise direction.

69 and the bracket 75, is normally held in the path of the upper end 7 6 of lever 64 by means of expansive spring 77 interposed be tween casing 68 and the .collar 78, the latter being secured to armature 74. When in the position of Figure 7 (the solenoid 69 beingnow demagnetized) armature 74 will joint 37, the tendency flanges 61 from brackets 62, weight 60 will drop clear of the vessel. energizin solenoid 69 fromv storage battery 70 instea offrom the electricity conveyed by cable 17 is to make the ballast release independent of power supplied from the surface of the water. y pendent upon suchpower and such power unavoidably cut olf, the operator within the vessel would be powerless to free weights 60 and it is at just such-a time'that he would be most desirous of aiding the vessel in returning to the surface of the water.

, I will now describe my means for supplying oxygen to the occupants of the vessel and also for maintaining the air pressure within the vessel at the desired degree.

A false bottom 79 is secured to the side Walls of shell 10 and is so arranged as to divide the shell 10 into a working chamber 10 and an air tight compartment 80. Resting on bottom '79 are the oxygentanks 81 and 82, supplied in any desired number which may conveniently be accommodated within the chamber 10. A breathing apparatus 83 is adapted to be strapped to the face of the workmen within the vessel and Thev purpose of- If the release were demay be attached by'tubing 84 to any of the oxygen tanks. Thus, workmen within the vessel may be supplied with oxfygen without depending on a supply of air rom the surface, the flow of oxygen being properly regulated by valve 85.

Should it be desired to raise the pressure within chamber10, any ofthe extra tanks of compressed oxygen may be openedl to allow-a How into said chamber. Should it be: desired to lower the pressure within the chamber 10, pump 86, driven by motor 87 will be started, thereby drawing air fromv the chamber 10" through pipe 88 and valve into the compartment 80. As soon as the pressure is suiciently reduced, valve 90 is closed and the pump stopped. Later, on rising to the surface, the air withincompartment 80 may be released by opening valve 91. By the provision of compartment 80, it

will be seen that excess" air wlthin the working chamber 10 of the vessel may be taken from said chamber 10 without an exhaust connection to the exterior of the vessel."`

As a means for allowing the workmen within the vessel to peer out into the water I have provided the observation port 92, whichis glassed over as at 93. In order to make port 92 water tight I have interposed a gasket 94 between the exterior of shell 10 and the glass 93 and provided an annular, externally threaded ring 95 which is adapt,- ed to p'ess glass '93 inwardly by itsthreaded connection with the internally threaded flan e 96 which may be made integral with shel 10.

In order to light the interior of the shel'l 10, I have provided the electric light globes 97 which are connected to switch board 29 by wires 98-99.

Extending laterally from t-he shell 10 and secured thereto by bolts 100 are the lower brackets 101 and the upper brackets 102 and 102. Inasmuch as the apparatus carried by the two sets of brackets are similar in pionstructure a description of one will suf- Journaled within the brackets 101-, 102 is the vertically arranged vshaft 103, positioned vertically by the hub of worm gear 104 secured to said shaft 103 at 105.

As a means for holding the vessel at a predetermined distance from the steel hull upon which it may be working, I have provided the magnet head 106 which is in the formof an electro-magnet energized by wires 107 leading to switch board 29. Head 106 is adjustably secured to shaft 103 by the'following means. Plate 108 is loosely journaled on shaft 103 and' is provided with the worm gear segment 109 adapted to be operatively connected to motor 110 by worm 111 and shaft 112. Motor 110 is electrically connected to switch board 29 and the revolving of said motor will swing plate 108 either in clockwise or counter clockwise direction in Figure 12. Journaled in plate 108 is the shaft 113 to which. is secured arm 114 and worm gear 115. Gear 115 is operatively connected to motor 116 by worm 117, shaft 118, and bevel gears 119-120. Motor4 116 is electrically vconnected to switch board 29 and serves to swing arm 114 in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction in Figure 11.

Arm 114 is cored out as at 121 to serve as a guide for rod 122 which isprovided with rack 123. A spur gear 124 is-carried on shaft 125 which is journaled in brackets 126 secured to arm 114. Gear 124 meshes with rack `123 and is operatively connected to a motor 127 by shaft 125, worm gear 128 fast on said shaft, and worm 129 on shaft 130 which isjournaled in brackets l131 on arm 114. Motor 127 is electrically connected to switch board 29 and operation of said motor will revolve gear 134 which by its engagement with rack 123 will extend or re tract rod 122 with respect to arm 114. Magnet head 106 is secured to rod 122 by universal joint 132 and equalizing springs 133.

After shell 10 has been laced in correct position with relation to t e hull on which it is working, the various motors 110,116, 127 will be operated until the head 106 contacts with a suitable metallic portion of the hull and head 106 will then be magnetized to hold it to the hull and hence retain the shell 10 in the given position with relation to the hull. The worm connections between the various joints will (prevent any tendency of the various arms an rods to change position, in other words, they serve as a lock,

A plurality of magnet heads 106 may be 138 and 139 are adapted to mesh together,

as are also gears 14o-.141. Motors 142, car` ried on the upper face of gear 104 and electrically connected to switch board 29 drives gear 143 which is adapted to mesh with A gears 139--140.

A motor 144,supported on bracket 101 and electrically connected to switch board 29, is operatively connected with worm gear 104 by gear 145, gear 146 on shaft 147 which is journaled in brackets 148, and worm 149, fast on shaft 147. Motor 144, when revolved, will through its operative connection with worm gear 104, serve to revolve shaft 103 and all apparatus secured thereto. Pinned to shaft 103 at 150are rod supporting members 151 through which are journaled the ends of rods V152, positioned vertically by collars 153. Intermediate their ends, the rods 152 are threaded as at 154 for threadable enga ement with the carriage 155 at 15e (Fig. 17

To the lower extremities of rods 152 are secured the bevel .gears 157 meshing with the bevel gears 158 carried on shafts 159 which support gears 138-141. The revolving of motor 142 will\ through gears 143, 139, 14o, 13s, 141, 159 5nd 158, revolt@ rods 152 and consequently raise or lowerthe carria e 155.

will now describe in detail the mechanical arms generally indicated at 160, reference being had particularly to Figures 15 to 19, inclusive.

Carria e 155 carries journals 161 within which is Journaled the shaft 162. Keyed at 163 to shaft 162 is arm section 164, and -keyed at 165 is the worm gear 166. Worm gear 166 has operative connection with'motor 167 through worm 168 on shaft 169 which is supported on carriage 155 by 1sournals 170, and bevel gears 171-172. otorv 167 is supported on carriage 155 and haselectrical connection with switch board Motor 167 through its operative connection therewit serves to swing arm section 164 in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction (Fig. 15).

- Journaled near the extremity of arm section 164 is the shaft173 (Fig. 1 9) which is positioned vertically by set collars 174-175. eyed at 176 to shaft 173 is the arm section 177 the lower face of the extremity of which is adapted to bear on the `up r face of section .164. Keyed to shaft 1 3 at176 and bolted to section 177 at 178 is the worm gear 179.. Alilanges 180 'are brought .up from sec# tion 164 and bent overthe top of gear 179 as at 181 to aid carrying the' weight of,

section 177. j

Gear 179 is operatively connected with a motor 182 by worm 183 carried on shaft 184 journaled at 185 to section 164, and bevel gears 186-187.y Motor 182 is secured to sec# tion 164 and has electrical connection with switch board 29. Motor 182 serves to swing 10, section 177 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction in Figure 16.

Arm section 177 is forked as at 188 to jouror counter clockwise direction in Figure 15. An arm sect1on`198 1s connected to arm section 190 by means similar to those used in connecting section 177to section 164 and` nal 199. A hollow shaft 200 is journaled.

within 199 and is laterally positioned by collar 201 and worm gear`202 secured thereto on opposite sides of journal 199. Shaft 200 carries the forked plate 203 to which are pivoted at 204 the jaws 205. Gear 202'is operatively connected to motor 206 by worm 0 207 carried by shaft 208 which is journaled at 20,9 to section 198, and bevel gears 210-211. Motor 206 is secured to 'section 198 and' is electrically connected with switch board 29. Motor 206 serves, through its 45. operative connections just described, to revolv'e shaft 200 and all mechanism carried thereby. This movement willbe especially useful in bolting :or unbolting, by rst clamping jaws 205 on the bolt o r nut to be turned.

Ifhave provideda novel means for adjusting' jaws 205 irrespective of the'revolvin movementwhich may be imparted to sai jaws.. A solenoid 212 is securedonsection 198 andelectrically connected to the switch board 29. Adapted to slide within the bore of-Jsolenoid 212 is the amature 213whch extends through hollow shaft 200. The extremity of armature 213 is attached to jaws 205 by means of links 214.

An expansive spring 215 is slipped over armature 213 and interposed. between the end of the solenoid 213 and a collar 216 secured to armature 213. .normally thrust armature 213 to the right `65 and, through links 214 and the pivotal Spring 215 will mounting of jaws 205, will hold jaws 205 open, as in Figure 16.

.When solenoid 212 is energized through switch board 29, armature 4213 will be drawn to the left, and, through links214, will close jaws 205, causing them to grasp any object which may lie there-between.

To make the jaws more effective I may add the serrated gripping plates 216 which are pivoted to jaws 205 at 217 andgive a parallel jaw effect.

In de-energiz'ing solenoid 212, spring 215 will serve to open jaws 205.

It will beseen that due to the jointed sections making up themechanical arms 160, it'

is possible to project the jaws 205 into cramped quarters and into almost in-accessible places, without eliminating the jaws usefulness. After the jaws have been clamped on an object it will be possiblete handle the objectin almost any conceivable manner by properly manipulating the arms 160. At allv times, the arms will remain in" the position taken when the operating motors are stopped, due to the'worm drive used in connection with each joint. y

In order that lightmaybe directed at the object on which work is being formed, I have provided the search light 218 (Figs.'19) and have shown means whereby the search light may be swung into various positions by motor means positioned on top of the'shell l0. Search light 218 is secured to shaft 219 which is journaled to the forked extremity 220 of ':vertical shaft 221. Shaft 219 carries a worm gear segment 222 which is adapted to engage worm 223 which is carried on shaft 224, the latter being journaled to upright 221 at 225. gear 226 secured to shaftV 224, meshes with gear 227 which is adapted to be revolved -by motor 228. It will beseen that motor 228,through its operative connection with shaft 219 serves to swing search light218 up or down.

per-

with worm 234 carried on. shaft 235 which I isY journaled. tohangers 236. Shaft 235 carries gear 237 adaptedfto mesh -with gear 238 carried `by motor 239. j Motor 239 is mounted on the top of shell 10, and is electrically connected withswitchboard 29.

VMotor 239, by its operative connection withv shaft 221, serves to revolve search light 218, at will. n

While I have herein shown and described one e `bodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto, except for such limitations as the claims may import.

What I claim is:-

1. In a submarine salvage vessel, a water tight shell, tractor devices positioned beneath said shell for maneuvering 'said vessel. while resting on bottom, a universal joint connecting said tractor devices to said shell to enable said shell to remain upright in the water when said tractor devices are resting on uneven bottom, electric motors operatively connected to said tractors to drive same, means for conveying electricity tosaid motors, and means positioned within said shell for controllingthe How of electricity to said motors.

2. In a submarine vessel, a water tight shell, ballast detachably secured to the exterior of said shell, means positioned on the exterior of said shell to normally retain said ballast securedto said shell, electrically operated means positionedon the exterior of said shell to release said ballast from said shell and means for controlling said last mentioned means positioned within said shell.

\' 3. In a submarine salvage vessel, a water tight shell, brackets secured to the exterior of said shell, a shaft Vjournaled in said brackets, a plate journaled on said shaft, a magnet head, means for ma etizing said head, means within said shel for controlling the magnetizing of said head, electric motor driven means for revolvin said plate, jointed connections between said plate and said head, means adapted to actuate said jointed connections to laterally and vertically shift the position of said head with respect to said shell.

4. In a submarine vessel, ballast detachably secured exteriorly thereof, a lever rdisposed. in the patli of said ballast, a

solenoid, an armature adapted to be acted upon by .the energization of said solenoid and co-acting with said lever2 spring means for retaining' said armature 1n a pre-determined position with respect to said lever when said solenoid is de-energized whereby said ballast is retained in position on said vessel, and means for energizin said solenoid whereby said armature is y out of co-acting relation with said lever to allow said weight to thrust said lever out of path and to free itself from attachment to said vessel.

5. In a submarine salvage vessel, a watertight shell, a partition' dividing the interior Vof said shell into two compartments, one

a working compartment and the other an air storage compartment, storage means for carrying oxygen underA pressure for admission tosaid working compartment, a pump within said working compartment and means to drive said pump to draw air from said working compartment and to-force it under pressure into said storage compartment.

6. In a submarine salvage vessel, a water` tight shell, a partition dividing the interior of said shell into a working compartment and a storage department, self contained means Within said shell adapted to main tain a supply of life sustaining atmosphere vsingle jointed connection between said driv 'lng devices and said buoyancy of said she causes said shell to remain upright when submerged irrespective of the nature of the bottom on which said driving devices rest.-

8. In a submarine salvage vessel, a cylindrical shell having a conical bottom, driving devices positioned beneath and exteriorly of said shell, and a universal joint connecting'the apex of said conical bottom and said driving devices.

9. In a submarine salvage vessel a cylindrical s hell, a conical bottom Aon said shell, a partition disposed interiorly of said shell to divide the interior of said vessel into a working compartment and a compartment for the reception of excess air from said working'compartmena and driving devices having jointed connection with said conical bottom.

10. In a submarine salvage vessel,mechan ical arms secured to the exterior of said vessel, gripping jaws pivotally arranged on said arms, solenoids on said arms, armatures co-actingwithin said solenoids and opera-i tively connected to said jaws whereb energization of said solenoids retracts sai armatures to close said jaws, means for energizing said solenoids, means within said vessel for -controlling the energization of said solenoids, and means -for normally retainin said jaws in an open osition when said so enoids are de-energizedl.) f v 11. Inasubmarine salvage vessel, mechan- .ical arms secured to the exterior of said vessel, gripping jaws pivotally arranged on said arms, means for revolving said jaws with respect to said arms, solenoids on said arms, armatures co-actingwithin said so1e' noids and operatively connected to said jaws whereby energization of said solenoids retracts' said armatures to close said jaws, means for energizing said solenoids, means shell whereby vthe,

INS

within `said vessel for controlling the energization of said solenoids, and means for normally retaining said jaws in an open position when said solenoids are de-energized. y

12. In combination with a submarine Vessel, a mechanical arm positioned exteriorly of said vessel and connected thereto, a hollow shaft j ournaled on the extremity of said arm, means on said arm for revolving said shaft, a plate secured to said shaft, gripping jaws pivoted on said plate, a solenoid on said arm, an armature coacting with said solenoid and operatively connected to said jaws, said armature passing through the center of said shaft whereby longitudinal movement of said armature and revolving movement of said shaft may be caused simultaneously or selectively.

13. In combination with a submarine vessel, a jointed mechanical arm made up of sections and secured to the exterior of said vessel, gripping jaws on said arm, Worm gear connections between said sections, motors operatively connected to said worm gear connections, .means for driving said motors whereby sald worm gear connections cause relative movement between said sections, said worm, gear connections being.

adapted to retain said arm sections in predetermined relation with each other 'when said motors are at rest, and means within said vessel for controlling said motors.

14. In combination with a submarine Vessel, a mechanical arm secured to the exterior of said vessel, said arm comprising arm sections, shafts pivotally connecting said sections, Worm gears on said shafts, worms on said sections engaging said worm gears lwhereby the revolving of said worms causes relative movement of said arm sections with respect to each other at the points of their shaft connections, means positioned YeXteriorly of said vessel adapted to revolve said worms, said means comprisingmotors operatively connected to said worms, means within said vessel adapted to drive said motors, and a connection between said last mentioned lmeans and said motors passing through the walls of said vessel and non- `movable with respect to said walls, to carry the power from said last mentioned means and deliver it to said motors.

15. In combina-tion with a submarine vessel, a shaft secured to the exteriorl of said vessel, a mechanical arm slidably mounted JOHN C. SETLOW.

internally threaded to 

